The kickoff for this year’s Negev Gala will be held at Shaarey Zedek Synagogue on Sunday, March 18. IDF Major General (Res.) Doron Almog, Chairman of ALEH Negev - Nahalat Eran and Israel Prize laureate for lifetime achievements to society and state will be speaking at a public lecture at 2 pm.

A decorated soldier, Doron Almog gained renown for his role as the first Israeli paratrooper reconnaissance commander to land at the daring rescue mission in Entebbe in 1976, and later for his participation in Operation Moses, which brought thousands of Ethiopian Jews to Israel in the 1980s.  As the head of the IDF’s Southern Command from 2000-2003, he protected Israel’s southern border from infiltration by terrorists from Gaza. Almog fulfilled most of his army service in active duty, both as a soldier and in leadership capacities in elite IDF units, despite being the son of a bereaved family. His brother, Lieutenant Eran Avrutsky, was killed during the Yom Kippur War while defending the Golan Heights as a tank commander.

After retiring from the IDF, Almog joined forces with ALEH (www.ALEH.org), Israel’s foremost network of state-of-the-art facilities for children with severe physical and cognitive disabilities, and dedicated his life to helping individuals with special needs live to their fullest potentials. Motivated by his son, Eran, who was born with severe autism and developmental delays, Almog helped establish ALEH Negev – Nahalat Eran, the Negev-based rehabilitative village of ALEH. The AlEH Negev village established by Almog is named after his son Eran, who was one of its first residents. Memories of Eran, who lost his battle with Castleman’s disease in 2007 at the age of 23, fuels Almog to continue his commitment to securing the best possible care for Israel’s disabled community.

Almog’s contribution to the security and social betterment of Israel has been acknowledged with numerous awards. Despite the bereavement and losses within his family, Almog stands out for his leadership capabilities and outstanding personal example, and for creating a future of hope for thousands of people in Israel, including the special needs population.